Friday, June 7, 2013

Are We Having Fun Yet?

In what is probably the most unlikely specimen to have been
included in Bill Bean’s photograph collection, this candid shot appears to be a
day care class taking a break outdoors for snacks.

The wriggling mass of miniature humanity is frozen in time
by an unnamed photographer, capturing a beguiling assortment of positions and facial
expressions. Nobody, however, looks particularly happy.

Appearing in a blur from off camera, a teacher rushes in,
donning a flowered coat over her polka dot (or perhaps striped) dress. Her
outfit is tastefully completed by her selection of what I used to call “old
lady shoes.”

Her charges are sporting every imaginable unsuitable type of
covering in weather cold enough to prompt their supervisor to wear layers:
baggy shorts, short-short dresses, pants—remember the term, dungarees?—t shirts,
button down shirts. And one little guy whom I couldn’t help but notice, donning
overalls meant to last him for several more years of good use.

Since Bill and Ellen Danielson Bean had no children of their
own—and since these young ones certainly didn’t include Bill’s brother Sam’s boys—I’ve always thought of that couple as not having much interest in
children. Bill faced so many pressing matters at work, and had so many other
interests to fill his “free” time. Knowing that, I was surprised to see this
photograph among those he had saved all these years. Somehow, it must have
meant something to him. But what?

Though the background to this photograph seems so stark, and
though the children don’t seem to manifest much joy, for some reason their
squirming personalities bring a smile to my face. While there are no names
listed to identify, no dates to pinpoint the event, no locations listed to help
describe the scene, I just wanted to share this anonymous snapshot of life.

9 comments:

Hilarious photo. 1. the girl in the Indian headdress -- when I taught preschool for a brief time, there was always some kid with a funny little trademark 2. the boy on the box -- do you suppose the teacher was running to keep him from falling or did he have enough finesse to right himself?3. white cowboy boots? He was ahead of his time or wearing his sister's hand-me-downs.4. this could easily be a school for child actors because they look like little rascals

"The public opening of Lincoln Park was Saturday, May 15, 1909. It featured a delegation of San Francisco school children who “descended from the special train of twelve coaches that bore them to the city beautiful.” School Superintendent Wood said: “Nothing could be more fitting and proper than setting apart in perpetuity one of the most beautiful spots in Alameda.... Playgrounds are the lungs of democracy and make for higher, better, and more wholesome citizenship... where all may rejoice and grow strong in sunshine and fresh air.” After much singing, speechifying, and marching, "the grounds were thrown open, and a day of jollity passed away without mishap... another record of Alameda’s hospitality made in local history.” Both the banquet and the grand opening were reported in detail in the Argus.

...

When the land nearby the park was excavated for a railroad track in 1892, an enormous burial mound was uncovered that included “the remains of 450 Indians and numerous artifacts," according to geographer Imelda Merlin. “The contents were hauled away in 1908 to Bay Farm Island, where they made admirable though grisly paving and filling material.” The mound was commemorated in Lincoln Park in 1915 when the Daughters of the American Revolution emplaqued a boulder imported from Mt. Tamalpais."

http://alamedasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=896

Apparently this park was well known for its wrought iron fence. I think I see a train station shelter "in the bosom" of the woman.

An interesting article, Iggy...and a park less than two miles from the "Beanery" in Alameda. I can't help cringing, though, at the thought of the disrespectful disposition of the remains that were uncovered in the process of construction...

I love this candid shot! It is so realistic with the expressions of the children and the rushing entrance of the teacher. Just what daycare is like (or used to be). I would imagine Bill Bean is related to one of these children--he's taking a picture for a friend or relative. The photo stands alone in its own right as a glimpse of "universal" daycare, though.

About Me

It is my contention that, after a lifetime, one of the greatest needs people have is to be remembered. They want to know: have I made a difference?
I write because I can't keep for myself the gifts others have entrusted to me. Through what I've already been given--though not forgetting those to whom I must pass this along--from family I receive my heritage; through family I leave a legacy. With family I weave a tapestry. These are my strands.